PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF PROTEIN MOLASSES BY SACCHARINA FOR FATTENING PIGS

Seventy two Duroc x Yorkshire-Landrace pigs of 27 +/- 1 kg were used f or studying the partial substitution of protein molasses by Saccharina (0, 15 and 30% in drybasis) during the fattening period which lasted 126 days. Animals were distributed according to a completely randomize d design with 6 pens/treatment and each pen with 4 animals. There were no significant differences between treatments for final liveweight (k g), daily gain (kg) and total feed conversion dry basis (kg/kg) while differences were found for conversion of protein molasses without incl uding Saccharina (P < 0.001) being the values: 5.24; 4.53 and 3.63, re spectively. It is concluded that it is feasible to substitute up to 30 % of protein molasses by Saccharina without it affecting animal perfor mance which originates a greater feed availability for fattening under this feeding system.